Nigeria’s Egg Shortage Crisis: Causes, Price Impacts, and Consumer-Retailer Responses in 2025

Overview
The egg shortage in Nigeria has significantly impacted prices in both supermarkets and roadside shops, driven by several key factors. Recent data from August 2025 shows prices ranging from ₦5,500 to ₦6,000 per crate, with supermarkets potentially at the higher end due to overhead costs.

Causes of the Shortage
Research suggests the primary cause is the high cost of poultry feed, especially maize and soybeans, which have seen price increases of up to 97% for soybeans over the past year. Other factors include limited access to credit facilities for farmers and inadequate infrastructure, such as transportation and storage, which hinder production. The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) reported a 50% drop in egg production, leading to a weekly shortage of over 100 million eggs.

Effects on Prices
This shortage has driven up prices, with supermarkets likely charging around ₦6,000 per crate, as seen on platforms like Starcrest Farm, while roadside shops and markets may offer slightly lower prices, around ₦5,500–₦6,000, based on social media reports and market surveys. The price hike, from less than ₦3,000 per crate a year ago to current levels, reflects the strain on supply.

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Recent Data
As of August 2025, a crate of eggs (30 pieces) averages between ₦5,499 and ₦6,200 across markets, with specific reports of ₦5,400 in Lagos and ₦5,800 in Abuja, suggesting regional variations. Supermarket prices may be higher due to additional costs, while roadside shops benefit from direct sourcing, potentially lowering prices slightly.

Future Outlooks
The evidence leans toward continued challenges without intervention, as economic hardship and climate crises could exacerbate feed costs. PAN has called for government support, such as subsidies and improved credit access, to stabilize the market, but without action, high prices may persist into 2026.

Consumer and Retailer Responses
Consumers are voicing affordability concerns on social media, with many finding eggs, once an affordable protein source, increasingly out of reach. Retailers may face supply shortages, potentially leading to rationing or price adjustments, though specific retailer strategies are less documented.

Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Nigeria’s Egg Shortage

This survey note provides a comprehensive examination of the egg shortage in Nigeria, its causes, effects on supermarket and roadside shop prices, recent data, future outlooks, and consumer and retailer responses, based on available information as of August 6, 2025.

Background and Context

Eggs are a vital source of affordable protein in Nigeria, with the poultry industry playing a significant role in the economy. However, recent reports highlight a severe shortage, attributed to multiple systemic issues, impacting prices and accessibility for both urban and rural consumers.

Causes of the Egg Shortage

The shortage is primarily driven by the high cost of poultry feed, particularly maize and soybeans, which constitute a significant portion of production costs. According to Businessday NG, maize prices rose by 48% to ₦710,000 per metric ton, and soybeans by 97% to ₦837,000, compared to 2023 levels. This increase is due to inflation, economic hardship, and supply chain disruptions. The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) also cites lack of access to credit facilities, making it difficult for farmers to invest in new stock, and inadequate infrastructure, such as poor transportation and storage, which exacerbate production challenges. LivestockTrend reported a 50% drop in egg production, leading to a weekly shortage of over 100 million eggs, underscoring the severity of the issue.

Effects on Supermarket and Roadside Shop Prices

The shortage has significantly increased egg prices, with recent data showing a crate of 30 eggs (the standard unit) averaging between ₦5,499 and ₦6,200 across markets. Specific reports, such as from Legit.ng on August 3, 2025, indicate prices dropped to ₦5,400 in Lagos and ₦5,800 in Abuja, reflecting regional variations and recent relief due to cheaper maize. Supermarkets, such as Starcrest Farm, list prices at ₦6,000 per crate, likely due to higher overhead costs, including online delivery and branding. Roadside shops and markets, benefiting from direct farm sourcing, may offer slightly lower prices, around ₦5,500–₦6,000, as seen in X posts from early August 2025, where users reported buying crates for ₦5,500 in Lagos. This suggests a price differential, with supermarkets potentially 5–10% higher, though exact comparisons are challenging due to limited data.

Recent Data and Trends

Recent market surveys, such as those from Aljazirahnews.com on August 5, 2025, confirm the price drop to ₦5,499–₦6,200, attributed to falling maize prices (down 33% to ₦450,000 per metric ton) and foreign exchange stability. Earlier in 2025, prices peaked at ₦7,000 per crate, as noted in X posts from January, but have since eased. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported in March 2024 that egg prices rose 54% year-on-year, from ₦850.49 to ₦1,309.75 per crate, indicating a trend of escalating costs before the recent drop. Social media discussions, such as on Reddit, highlight consumer frustration, with prices rising from ₦3,500 in January 2024 to ₦6,000–₦7,000 by January 2025, before the recent decline.

Future Outlooks

The future outlook remains uncertain, with the World Food Programme (WFP) warning of worsening food insecurity in 2025, driven by economic hardship and climate crises, which could further strain feed supplies. PAN has urged government intervention, including subsidies for feed and policies to improve credit access, as outlined in their statements to Nairametrics in October 2024. Without such measures, the shortage may persist, potentially pushing prices back toward ₦10,000 per crate, as warned by PAN in October 2024. The Nigeria Poultry Industry Outlook 2024–2028 suggests steady demand growth, but production constraints could widen the supply-demand gap, affecting affordability.

Consumer and Retailer Responses

Consumers are expressing significant concerns, with X posts like @littlehuman‘s on September 10, 2024, lamenting eggs at ₦5,200 per crate, calling them “supposed to be the affordable proteins.” This sentiment is echoed in NAN reports from March 2024, where residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) noted stopping purchases due to prices of ₦150–₦200 per egg. Retailers, while less documented, are likely facing supply challenges, potentially leading to rationing or price adjustments. In similar contexts, such as South Africa’s egg shortage due to avian flu, retailers like Woolworths limited purchases, and it seems likely Nigerian retailers may adopt similar strategies, though specific evidence is limited. PAN’s calls for government support suggest retailers are advocating for systemic changes to stabilize supply chains.

Supporting Data and Observations

To illustrate the price trends, consider the following table based on recent reports:

This table highlights the recent price stabilization and the potential supermarket premium. For further details, refer to LivestockTrend for production data and Legit.ng for market price updates.

In conclusion, the egg shortage in Nigeria, driven by feed costs and production challenges, has significantly impacted prices, with supermarkets and roadside shops reflecting these pressures. Future outlooks depend on policy interventions, while consumers and retailers navigate affordability and supply issues, respectively.